Datapage for a security document and a method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

A datapage of a security document includes a non-planar end face that is to be connected to a hinge material, thereby providing for increased overall contact surface area between hinge material and the datapage. Consequently, a respective connecting portion including such an interdigitated structure may provide for superior robustness while still ensuring a high degree of integrity of the datapage and a robust mechanical connection to the remainder of the security document.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A datapage for a security document, comprising
 a first cover sheet; 
 a second cover sheet; 
 an intermediate sheet sandwiched by said first and second cover sheets, said intermediate sheet having an end face for connecting to a hinge material sheet, said end face having non-planar surface portions, 
 wherein at least one of said first and said second cover sheets has a surface contact section that serves for connecting it to said hinge material sheet, and said surface contact section further comprises non-planar contact surface portions. 
 
     
     
       2. The datapage of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and second cover sheets extends beyond said end face. 
     
     
       3. The datapage of  claim 2 , wherein both said first cover sheet and said second cover sheet extend beyond said end face. 
     
     
       4. The datapage of  claim 1 , wherein said non-planar surface portions of said end face are formed by at least one of a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of recesses. 
     
     
       5. The datapage of  claim 1 , wherein said non-planar surface portions are configured as a saw-tooth type structure. 
     
     
       6. The datapage of  claim 1 , wherein said intermediate sheet is made of polycarbonate. 
     
     
       7. The datapage of  claim 6 , wherein said first and second cover sheets are made of polycarbonate. 
     
     
       8. The datapage of  claim 1 , further comprising said hinge material sheet connected to at least said end face. 
     
     
       9. The datapage of  claim 8 , wherein said first and second cover sheets overlap with said hinge material sheet and are connected therewith. 
     
     
       10. The datapage of  claim 8 , wherein said hinge material sheet and said intermediate sheet are formed of different materials. 
     
     
       11. The datapage of  claim 10 , wherein said hinge material sheet comprises a non-woven material. 
     
     
       12. The datapage of  claim 8 , wherein said intermediate sheet and said hinge material sheet form an interdigitated structure at said end face. 
     
     
       13. A datapage for a security document, comprising
 a first cover sheet; 
 a second cover sheet; 
 an intermediate sheet sandwiched by said first and second cover sheets so as to expose an end face of said intermediate sheet; and 
 a hinge material sheet connected to said intermediate sheet by said end face so as to form a connection portion of interdigitated structure, 
 wherein at least one of said first and said second cover sheets has a surface contact section that serves for connecting it to said hinge material sheet, and said surface contact section further comprises non-planar contact surface portions. 
 
     
     
       14. The datapage of  claim 13 , wherein said intermediate sheet is formed of a first material and said hinge material sheet is formed of a second material that differs from said first material. 
     
     
       15. The datapage of  claim 13 , further comprising a further intermediate sheet stacked on said intermediate sheet and sandwiched by said first and second cover layers. 
     
     
       16. The datapage of  claim 15 , wherein said further intermediate sheet comprises a further end face connected to said hinge material sheet. 
     
     
       17. The datapage of  claim 16 , wherein said end face and said further end face are offset to each other with respect to said hinge material sheet. 
     
     
       18. The datapage of  claim 16 , wherein said further end face forms a further connection portion of interdigitated structure with said hinge material sheet. 
     
     
       19. A method of forming a datapage for a security document, the method comprising
 providing a first cover sheet, a second cover sheet and at least one intermediate sheet having a contact end face, said contact end face having non-planar surface portions; 
 stacking said first cover sheet, said second cover sheet and said at least one intermediate sheet so as to arrange said at least one intermediate sheet between said first and second cover sheets, said first and second cover sheets extending beyond said contact end face so as to form overlapping contact surface portions; 
 connecting a hinge material sheet to said contact surface portions of said first and second cover sheets and to said contact end face of said intermediate sheet, 
 wherein said contact end face forms an interdigitated structure with said hinge material sheet, and 
 said contact surface portions comprise non-planar contact surface portions in order to provide increased adhesion strength when connecting to said hinge material.